Retired Police officer of Sikkim held with wildlife articles worth Rs 2.5 crore

The musk pods weighed 20 and 25 grams, respectively, while the flying squirrel’s skin weighed 140 grams, with an estimated value of Rs. 2.5 crore.

Photo: East Mojo

PRASHANT ACHARYA, EOI, SILIGURI, 18 JANUARY 2023 : A retired DSP of Sikkim Police was arrested by officers of the Bagdogra forest range on Thursday afternoon in Siliguri with a large quantity of wildlife articles. The consignment was sealed in plastic bags.

He was later handed over to the Bagdogra Police. The arrest was made under the supervision of Ranger Sonam Bhutia when he was making a deal with a customer over the phone, sitting inside his car near the gate of North Bengal University at Shiv Mandir. 

Musks of deer and skins of flying squirrels in large quantities were seized from inside the car. He was said to have admitted that he had brought the consignment from Chiyabhanjyang in Nepal where he had gone to attend a political programme. 

He was planning to sell the consignment in Kolkata for an amount of Rs 2.5 crore. One more person who was inside the car was also detained.

Voice of Sikkim: It was revealed that an individual from Delhi was expected to arrive at the hotel to take possession of the carcasses.

Range Officer Bagdogra, Sonam Gyaltsen Bhutia, informed reporters that the accused had acquired items, including two Deer Musk (Kasturi Vrinda) weighing 20 grams and 25 grams each, and 140 grams of Giant Flying Squirrel skin. Additionally, a Nissan Terrano private vehicle with a Sikkim number plate was involved in the incident.

East Mojo:  Retired Sikkim Police official Danny Bhutia was apprehended at Bagdogra airport in Siliguri on Thursday afternoon for possession of wildlife articles, including two musk pods and the skin of a flying squirrel. Bhutia, a resident of Tadong in Gangtok, was intercepted in his vehicle while allegedly conducting a transaction with a customer near the North Bengal University gate of Shivmandir in Bagdogra along Asian Highway II, following a tip-off.

The accused was detained by the Bagdogra range of the Directorate of Forests, West Bengal, based on information provided by a concerned citizen who had overheard Bhutia discussing the items with another individual in a local hotel in Siliguri. In response to the complaint, forest officials dispatched a team, leading to the arrest of the individual along with the seized contents.

It appears that Bhutia had collected the items from Chewabhanjyang on the Indo-Nepal border and was en route to selling them to an individual from Delhi at Bagdogra Airport. The musk pods weighed 20 and 25 grams, respectively, while the flying squirrel’s skin weighed 140 grams, with an estimated value of Rs. 2.5 crore.

Boroketimes.com: In a startling development, a former retired police officer from Sikkim finds himself at the center of a wildlife smuggling scandal. The accused, whose identity remains undisclosed during the ongoing investigation, was apprehended in Siliguri by West Bengal Forest officials. The arrest unfolded after the suspect was caught red-handed smuggling Flying Squirrel skins and Musk Deer body parts, raising serious concerns about the extent of the illicit trade.

The West Bengal Forest officials sprang into action following a tip about suspicious activities in the area. Acting promptly, the police intercepted the retired police officer, leading to his apprehension. The confiscated items, including Flying Squirrel skins and Musk Deer body parts, are estimated to be valued at over 3 crores, shedding light on the magnitude of the alleged wildlife smuggling operation.

The involvement of a former police officer in such a illicit trade adds a layer of complexity to the case. Preliminary investigations suggest that the accused may have played a significant role in orchestrating a smuggling network that dealt in rare and protected wildlife species. The use of Flying Squirrel skins and Musk Deer body parts in the illegal wildlife trade further highlights the severity of the situation, as these species often face threats to their survival.

The current focus of the investigation lies in interrogating the retired police officer to gather more information about the extent of the smuggling network and identify any potential accomplices. Unraveling the network is crucial not only for bringing the perpetrators to justice but also for understanding the dynamics of wildlife trafficking in the region.

Wildlife smuggling poses a significant threat to biodiversity and conservation efforts. The arrest of a former law enforcement officer underscores the need for heightened vigilance and stricter measures to combat this illicit trade. It is a stark reminder that individuals entrusted with upholding the law can sometimes be involved in activities that contribute to the endangerment of wildlife.

The arrest of a retired police officer in connection with a wildlife smuggling operation in Siliguri sends shockwaves through Sikkim and raises broader questions about the effectiveness of wildlife protection measures. As the investigation unfolds, authorities must ensure that the full extent of the smuggling network is exposed, and appropriate legal actions are taken. This incident serves as a wake-up call for increased efforts to safeguard our precious wildlife from the clutches of illegal trade.